USA – Language barrier may be to blame for Nashua, New Hampshire Taser incident (2012-12-12)

Published on December 12 2012 by admin

[[SUMMARY / COMMENTS: “Police taser Chinese woman buying i-phone” is a story that went viral fast, particularly since it was caught on CCTV. The truth is more disturbing and concerns police insensitivity to people’s language problems. As this article points it out: 44-year-old Xiaojie Li went to a n Apple store to buy phones for her family in China (a bit strange, perhaps), the staff called the police since she had twice returned to the store when this was not allowed by the employees. When Xiaojie didn’t leave, police said she resisted arrested and they were forced to use a Taser – “forced to?”]]

WMUR-9

NASHUA, N.H. – A language barrier might be to blame for an incident at the busy Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua.

Officers said they had to use a Taser on a woman they were trying to arrest Tuesday.

Investigators said an incident at the mall’s Apple store a few days ago sparked the situation.

WMUR reporters spoke with 44-year-old Xiaojie Li at her Newton, Mass., home after she was released on bond.

Xiaojie claims she cannot speak English and had to talk through her daughter.

Her daughter said, “My mom says she doesn’t know why they called the police because she doesn’t understand what they are talking about.”

The family said Xiaojie wanted to buy several iPhones for family in China but on Friday was limited to buying two.

Xiaojie said she recorded video in the store of what looked like other customers buying more.

Nashua police confirm she was asked to leave and the store even requested a no-trespass order.

When Xiaojie returned Tuesday to buy more iPhones, police said she was asked to leave again.

“Then manager of Apple store came and told her something but she doesn’t understand,” Xiaojie’s daughter said.

When Xiaojie didn’t leave, police said she resisted arrested and they were forced to use a Taser.

Xiaojie’s family said she didn’t understand what was happening and later watched the video of her arrest on her own iPhone.

Her daughter said, “My mom’s just really upset because she’s in a different country (and) nobody’s helping her. She doesn’t understand any English.”

Xiaojie is scheduled for a court appearance in January and will be arraigned on two misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest.